On This Day, October 6: Richie Benaud and Tony Greig were born

Two legends of the game Richie Benaud and Anthony William ‘Tony’ Greig were born on October 6, 16 years apart. While Australia all-rounder Benaud was born in the year 1930 in Penrith, New South Wales, England all-rounder Greig was born in 1946 in Sussex. Both had successful international careers and also led their respective nations.

Benaud represented Australia in 63 Tests, scoring 2,201 runs at 23.45, which included 3 centuries and 9 fifties. He was an excellent leg-break bowler, having snared 248 victims and 27.03. He also had as many as 16 5-wicket hauls in his career. Greig, on the other hand, played 58 Tests for England, where he scored 3,599 runs at 40.43. he also had 8 centuries and 20 fifties to his name. With the ball, he picked up 141 Test wickets at 32.20, which included 6 5-wicket hauls. Greig also played 22 ODIs for England, in which he scored 69 runs and picked up 19 wickets.

Both Greig and Benaud hail from a cricketing family. Richie’s brother John represented Australia in 3 Tests, in which he scored 223 runs at 44.60. Tony’s brother Ian and nephew Will Hodson too played competitive cricket. While Ian played a couple of Tests, Hodson, on the other hand, managed to play just 1 First-Class match.

After retirement, both Greig and Benaud turned to commentary. They are still considered two of the finest commentators in the world.

In 2012, Greig was diagnosed with lung cancer, while Benaud was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2014. Greig passed away in Sydney on December 29, 2012, at the age of 66 – just a few months after he was diagnosed with cancer. Benaud passed away in Sydney on April 10, 2015, aged 84.